Commission will do what’s best
Some years back I wrote a little piece about wishing I had stayed in bed on a particular day.
For some reason, those always happen on press days.
Not sure why.
I was kindly reminded — and I’m going to paraphrase here — that a person should rejoice in every day because it is the day God has given you. I have taken that to heart.
Last week was brutal, but you know what? I woke up the next day. And the day after. And the day after.
Here’s what I know and what I think about events unfolding before our lives as you read this:
The Anderson County Commission will look at outsourcing the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). I’ve reached out to several commissioners to try and understand what it is the county would like. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I have no understanding of how to run an EMS department. None. Nada. Zilch. Zero.
I also said I applaud County Commissioners asking questions about … Anything. Seriously, the people on that body may not agree about everything, but they seem to agree they are the backstop for county taxpayers.
So, good for them. I feel it is their responsibility to look at all options as far as spending taxpayer’s money. It will be interesting to see what comes up.
I have sent a few e-mails to some commissioners. A couple responded. I didn’t send them to all commissioners. My decision. This situation is so complex (and at times, so emotional) that I didn’t want to get at a point where I couldn’t see (or understand) the forest for the trees.
One response I received back even asked me if I had insight — the commissioner in question was looking for anything, everything, to help form an opinion, to make a good, sound decision for the county’s taxpayers.
I have no insight. Except this:
If you’ve ever had to ride in an ambulance, whether it be a 911 call or just a transport, raise your hand. Hopefully, you will never have to go through either — especially a 911 call because that means something bad has happened to you. But I have been in an ambulance for a transport from Tennova North to the now closed St. Mary’s for heart surgery.
I don’t know who provided said transport. I did notice the ambulance I rode had an odd name — not anything associated with Rural Metro or Knox County — and that the gurney didn’t quite work.
And I was placed on a “rubber” mattress that … I didn’t like the coloration of. I said I was cold and could I have a blanket (hoping I could tuck it underneath me). A paper thingy was placed over me. I also asked for a pillow. I mean, I had like 543 tubes and hoses stuck in me. I felt like a science project, and laying my head back was not very comfortable. Not that comfort was my main concern. I have a couple of “bad” discs in my neck, so … Can you help a guy out?
While my ambulance attendants looked for a pillow I just put my hand behind my head to support my neck (and then my hand fell asleep so I switched hands. I did that so many times I looked like I was dancing in a disco).
The trip from Tennova North to the now closed St. Mary’s is something like 15 miles (I’m guessing here) but it seemed like it lasted the better part of a day.
I did, however, get to listen to who had what shift and why certain people had good shifts, others bad shifts, and why ambulance so-and-so was pulled from rotation, and a plethora of other interesting tidbits — all the while hoping I would not acquire yet another “bad” disc in my neck because I don’t think the ambulance had very good shocks.
The only thing about the experience that surprised me was that we didn’t go through a drive-through and order burgers and shakes, or stop at someone’s house on the way so someone could run in and borrow a pair of shoes. It cost me — or my so-called insurance at the time — more than $900. I was billed for a little more than $650 of that.
I wished I could have taken an Uber.
So, that’s my experience with an ambulance.
But guess what? After that ambulance ride, that surgery … I wake up every day. Grateful.
That’s why I believe County Commission will do what is best for its taxpayers.
